| 2005
Spring Break Missions Continue Past Success
The Bronx mission participants show
their team spirit. Back row (L to R): Angela Ouimet '05, Erin
Ranft '06, Michela D'Eramo '06
Front row (L to R): Heather MacMillan '06, Kim Maleno '06 |
March,
2005—Since the 1980s, Assumption College's Campus
Ministry has sponsored "alternative" Spring Break Mission
programs for students. These trips are designed to offer students
the opportunity to travel to a unique destination and spend the
week serving the local community. Each mission trip offers a distinct,
often life-changing experience and is centered around service work
that is performed each day. This year's groups worked with Habitat
for Humanity in Baltimore, MD and Lansdale, PA; Gift of Peace in
Washington, DC; New Jerusalem (a recovery community) in West Philadelphia;
and Mercy Center in the Bronx. In addition to the days spent in
service, the students spend the evenings reflecting on their experiences
in the light of faith, building community as a group, and sightseeing
in the local area. This year, more than 30 students and staff members
participated in Campus Ministry's Spring Break Missions.
Listen to the testimonials of this
year's attendees:
"Spending my spring break doing a Mission was the best
option. Having the opportunity to work with other volunteers, meet
new people in a totally different environment, and getting closer
with AC students who are interested in the same thing was an amazing
experience that truly cannot be described in words. The knowledge
I have walked away with could not have been taught in any other
manner. I am so grateful for having been granted with this wonderful
chance, and would encourage any student to pursue any one of the
great Mission Programs, but the Bronx was definitely two thumbs
up! " –Michela D'Eramo '06
Karen Richards '06 makes West Philadelphia
a better place. |
"The
people at Mercy Center [in Bronx, NY] were warm and welcoming.
They did a very nice job explaining what we were going to do and
I am glad they gave us a tour of the block around Mercy Center.
I enjoyed helping out the women who were learning English because
they were appreciative of our help and extremely grateful that we
were there. Working with the kids and running a camp was lots of
fun because they helped us appreciate what we have and to enjoy
the small things in life." –Angela Ouimet
'05
"My mission experience in the Bronx was amazing.
We met many wonderful people, such as Hispanic women who were incredibly
enthusiastic and eager to learn English, and energetic elementary
school children who showed so much potential and had such exuberant
personalities. It was especially difficult to leave at the end of
the week, but I know that the memories I made will last a lifetime
and the people I met will remain in my heart forever."–Kim
Maleno '06
"This
experience [Boston, MA mission] is probably one of the most rewarding
things I have ever done. On this trip we helped out many people,
whether it was serving dinner at a homeless shelter or packing toys
and clothing for needy children. I also learned a lot about God
and my faith through my stay at the Assumptionists’ house
in Brighton. One of the most important things that this Mission
taught me was about how to appreciate the world that we live in,
and how I am able to make it a better place, regardless of how small
my contributions may be."–Luke Desautels
'07
The West Philadelphia Mission group
enjoys the city skyline. |
"Instead
of going to the typical spring break "hot spot", I decided
to take advantage of our spring break mission program and spend
a week in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We visited Holy Family
Home, New Jerusalem. There, I helped serve lunch and played bingo
with the residents. During the rest of my trip, I visited New Jerusalem,
a rehabilitation program for people serious about their recovery
from narcotics. The members of New Jerusalem were eager to share
their stories and words of wisdom with me. Throughout the week,
we discussed the negative effects of narcotics in a person's life,
role-played both humorous and dangerous situations, and bonded with
one another. By the end of the week, I saw the New Jerusalem members
not as recovering individuals, but as my new aunties and uncles.
Prayer and reflection was an important aspect to this trip; each
day I had time to reflect on my reasons for going to Pennsylvania.
Going on this mission trip truly allowed me to form bonds with people
and to put my Christian faith into practice."—Karen
Richards '06
For more information about the Spring Break Mission program, please
contact John Fleming at (508) 767-7474 or jfleming@assumption.edu.
|
